Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kinshasa, 31 May 2013 – Today the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr Félix Kabange Numbi Mukwampa, launched a comprehensive approach to health whose objective is to save the lives of 430,000 children under 5 years old and 7,900 mothers by 2015.
The ceremony is part of the global call for action of “A Promise Renewed” which brought together Ministers of Health from 49 countries in Washington in June 2012 to accelerate the reduction of maternal, child and neonatal mortality (Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5). This call for action challenges the world to reduce child mortality in every country to a maximum of 20 deaths for 1,000 live births by 2035. If this historic goal is achieved an additional 45 million lives would be saved before 2035, bringing the world closer to the ultimate goal of prevention of child mortality.
"The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is committed to make every effort to reduce women and children’s mortality, lead the necessary interventions so that health services can provide quality care to the population; and coordinate efforts with its partners to further strengthen the health system, "said Dr. Felix Kabange Numbi Mukwampa, Minister of Health.
At the launch ceremony UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Mrs. Geeta Rao Gupta emphasized the direct link between the right to survival for every mother and every child and the progress of a country. "It is not a dream to imagine that levels of child mortality in the DRC can be reduced to those the richest countries. The global commitment is renewed; the partners in the DRC are mobilized. With creativity and a strong national political will all children and their mothers, even those in the most remote areas, can have access to interventions necessary to overcome the major causes of mortality".
"USAID and all the donors are fully engaged and working closely with the Congolese government to end maternal and child preventable deaths. We must see each death of a Congolese child not only as a tragedy for his family, but also a tragedy for the nation, "said Dr. Diana B. Putman, Director of USAID/DRC. “Thanks to the interventions undertaken in the USAID-supported health zones, we already contribute significantly to the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the DRC," added Dr. Putman.
Mr. Chris Pycroft, Head of DFID DRC, had these words: "It is no longer acceptable that Congolese women die either during pregnancy, childbirth, or following complications. DFID will use all means at its disposal to ensure safe pregnancies that lead to the birth of a healthy child».
Mr. Jean Michel Dumond, Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation, has announced a new contribution of 40 million euros from the European Union in support of the framework for accelerating progress towards MDGs 4 and 5. Mr. Dumond emphasized the longstanding partnership between the European Union and the Ministry of Public Health of the DRC, as well as UNICEF.. "Our renewed promise in the health sector to achieve MDGs 4 and 5 is only one example of our commitment to the principle that every man, woman and child in the DRC, without exception, should have access to health services and quality drugs."
According to Hadia Samaha, Head of the PARSS project: "The World Bank applauds this government initiative. It is a new push towards the reduction of child and maternal mortality and morbidity in DRC. To achieve this it is essential that all children under 5 years old have access to quality basic health care, bothpreventive and curative, and that women of childbearing age and pregnant women benefit from quality reproductive health care. Therefore, a very important element of this initiative is to facilitate the financial access for poor families to such services. Finally, greater coordination among international agencies and governmental services will result in the improved management of health zones, which is urgently required to efficiently increase health coverage in this country.” "
The approach “Safe Birth – Healthy Growth – Sustainable Progress” will cost US$1,1 billion. Its objective is to improve health coverage of pregnant women and children under five years old through the provision of drugs and medical equipment as well as subsidies to improve access to care.
Six strategies have been defined to implement the approach, including: i) Universal coverage of health care for under five children and pregnant women via “Family kits” including vouchers; ii) improvement of the continuity of care at the peripheral level including reference structures; iii) improvement of governance and management of health zones; iv) strengthening human resources (health care providers, staff motivation, quality of training); v) promotion of healthy behaviors ;vi) community mobilization.
DRC is the third overall contributor to the global mortality of children under five years old, after India and Nigeria. According to the MICS 3 survey in 2010, 1 in 6 children, or about 465,000, die each year before the age of 5 in the DRC.. The trend has improved since 2001, when 1 in 5 children did not reach his fifth birthday. (Source: MICS 2). Most of these deaths are due to diseases that could be prevented with simple and inexpensive measures, such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea and diseases affecting newborns (infections, asphyxia, and hypothermia). Although maternal mortality has also declined in the country since 2001 it remains a significant concern. Every 30 minutes, at least one woman dies in childbirth in the DRC.
Each year, about 15,000 women die giving life.
Many members of the government and development partners participated in today’s ceremony, mobilized for action and committed to overcoming child and maternal mortality.
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Pour plus d’informations, veuillez contacter: Cornelia Walther, Chef Communication UNICEF/RDC, (+243) 99 100 63 07, cwalther@unicef.org Bibiane Ambongo, Spécialiste Communication, (+243) 81 8803007, bambongo@unicef.org Dr Alphonse Toko, UNICEF RDC, Section Survie (+243) 0817008511, atoko@unicef.org Dr Lomamy Shodu, Cabinet du Ministre de la Santé publique (+243) 0813808382, lshodu@gmail.com Alain Mukeba, Chargé de Communication USAID/DRC, (+243) 81 32 6262, amukeba@usaid.gov Dr Albert Mudingayi, Conseiller santé/DFID, (243) 819072842, A-Mudingayi@dfid.gov.uk Maria Gonzalez, Chef de section santé, eau et assainissement, (243) 818946702, Maria.gonzalez-mata@eeas.europa.eu Louise Engulu, Senior Communications Officer/ Banque Mondiale, lengulu@worldbank.org